Improvement in boat-oars



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFS RODE, OF MANCHESTER TOVNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOAT-CARS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,656, dated February 17, 1857.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS RODE, of Manchester township, in t-he county of York, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Making Boat-Oars for Rowing Boats; and I do hereby declare that the -following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in a method of holding the oar for the purpose ot' backing water to keep the oar from feathering, which prevents the action of the water upon the oar.

To enable others skilled in the art to make 'and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I insert a lever A (see drawing) in the hand end of an oar through a mortise and fastened by means of a pin through center ot' mortse, the lever at the upper end when in use resting and fitting in a slot cut out for that purpose in handle, the lower end of lever operating upon fulcrum B, said fulcrum operating on spring O to turn 'the oar to an angular position, which creates a pressure upon the blade by means ot' a flat cut in 'the oar and a corresponding rim in the oscillating fulcrum. Spring CZ on the fulcrum is to return the lever to place when not in operation. The lever A is thrown. out of the slot (shown by dotted lines on the handle ot the oar) by spring D on fulcrum.

It is not intended to work this improvement with the usual-shaped boat-oars, but the working-oar is formed in pieces, making a double joint, which gives a reverse motion, by which means the oarsman rows the boat facing the bow of the boat, but which I do not claim in this improvement.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The means by which I back Water when the oar is to be used for that purpose, the oar to return to its place when feathering by means of lever, fulcrum, and springs, as described in the specification.

RUFUS RODE. Vitnesses:

HENRY METZGER, JOHN SCHRWER. 

